I’ve done a bad thing. I’ve received some Blog Awards over the past few months and am just now getting to them. And, I have a confession to make.
The first time I got an award I was totally clueless. I’d just started blogging, didn’t really know anything about the blogosphere besides the agent blogs I’d been reading. I just used the internet for agent and fact finding research, and to read the news.
Facebook was a far away planet.
Twitter was something my Great Uncle Elmo did when he couldn’t find his suspenders.
U-tube was a sock brand.I pretty much stayed in my writer’s cave until I accepted an offer of representation from Jennifer DeChiara.
My internet presence consisted of some race times for the handful of marathons and other road races I’ve run the past few years.
Once I started looking around, I saw all these blogs. Yeah, duh, Paul. There’s a lot of other writers out there and they’ve got an internet presence while it looks like you’re hiding from the law.
The week after I signed with Jennifer I had simple website and a blog. Talk about a learning curve!
So, back to the awards. I thanked these awesome writers on their blogs in their comments sections but never recognized them on my blog. And, if I have left anyone out, it is my fault. I apologize.
Mary Campbell over at Writer’s Butt does not apply to me gave me this one. Thanks, Mary.
I sure felt like a flake having no clue how to make the award magically appear on my blog.
I think this one was next.
Thanks, Lisa Desrochers and Dawn Simon. Lisa just got a three book deal! And Dawn is close to querying her novel. With this award, I think I’m supposed to confess to the crimes I’ve committed, which jails I’ve done time in, and my adventures skipping bail. We’ll save that for a future post.
ali Cross gave me this one. Thanks, ali.
I’ve just gotta say, ali’s blog is overflowing with poetry and music. She’s got a beautiful blog. I can’t wait to read one of her books.
Elana Johnson gave me this one. Thanks, Elana.
Talk about a blogging writer. I’m guessing she doesn’t sleep much. She’s managed to write, I don’t know how many novels, I think that’s a secret, (but I’m confident we’ll see one of them on the shelves soon,) and another book: From the Query to the Call. Every time I find a new blog there’s a comment from Elana. She’s everywhere. She’s like the definition of an Internet Presence. I’ve learned a ton reading her blog.
I know I’m supposed to pass these on, but I’ll save that for another post. This one is already twice as long as I’d like it to be. When I was teaching I always had a hard time giving out awards. I usually ended up giving at least one to each of my students at the end of the year.
Thank you for the awards, and thank you all for stopping by my blog.
Okay, now it’s back to work on my YA adventure/survival story. I’m hoping to rewrite at least one chapter per day. If you’re still with me, just tell me this: What are you working on this week? What do you hope to accomplish?
Congrats on the awards, Paul. And your WIP sounds very exciting. A chapter a day sounds super.
I am looking up agents, finishing working on my synopsis, and preparing for the BIG day.
Then I’ll get back to work on my new WIP. I have a few chapters waiting on my return. Have a great day. (^_^)
I’m having a BLAST working with my editor. It’s really fun to watch my manuscript improve.
Congrats on the peer awards. So glad you were bold enough to creep out of your cave and learn new skills.
Fun post! A chapter a day sounds like a great goal. I’m busy converting a wall in my house into a massive plotting chart.. ugh. Congrats on the awards! (There’s another one for you to pick up on my blog – Jan 11th post.)
Paul–lovely awards. And well-deserved, every one!
Robyn, good luck with your synopsis and querying. A very exciting time for you!
Terry, I can’t wait to read DogSled Dreams when it comes out!! Glad you are having so much fun working with your editor!! And yes, coming out of the cave has been great. Now the trick for me is to balance writing time with the new stuff, something we all struggle with.
Deb, I look forward to seeing your plotting wall. A friend of mine has a huge white board and loves it. Thanks for alerting me of the award. Sorry that I missed it.
Thanks, Heather. I hope you have a productive week whatever you end up working on.
You are hilarious Paul. I still feel pretty clueless when it comes to stuff online–but at least I’m trying.
I got a lot done on my manuscript this week too (but not a chapter a day. You have skills. 🙂
Thanks, Natalie. Your blog is very professional looking. I wish mine was as nice. I still need to learn a lot of things that you already know. Good luck w/your writing this week!
I love the way you did this all at once (and fun photos too)…I may have to copy you (but I’ll find own photos, of course)!
This blogging business has a big learning curve!
I’d love to do a chapter a day! I’ll see what I can do…
Wishing you luck.
What fantastic pictures .. really! Made me giggle 😀 Especially the you tube socks!
Anita and Tess, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. I had lots of fun picking them out. One of the things I like best about blogging is being able to illustrate the words.
Tina Lee, blogging continues to be a steep but mostly enjoyable learning curve for me. I hope you have a great writing week!!
Congrats on all the awards! I like the photos you put with them.
Like you, I was reading agent blogs long before I started one of my own. Facebook is the next frontier, but I’m still resisting… Hee! I joined LinkedIn as a baby step.
Very fun post!
Ha! I felt the same way when I started blogging. Gee, there are other writers? Huh!
Congrats on the awards! I’m working on a first draft and my goal is to write 10,000 words this week. Best of luck to you!
Aw, thanks, Paul. And it’s not a secret how many novels I’ve written, I’ve just lost count. And I’ve started more than I’ve finished, which is why I’m all mixed up!!
Congrats on your awards!
I’m working on a new YA novel. Shocking, I know! But I have my revisions out with betas, and I’m actually putting new words to paper now. Contemporary. Something new. I’m in heaven.
Dawn, I’m glad you liked the photos. My favorite is the little guy with the eye patch and the shovel.
Jill, I hope you hit your ten thousand words!
Elana, Good luck with that contemporary YA! Sounds exciting!
That’s an impressive trophy wall! Keep up the good work.
Congratulations on the awards!
This week, is going to be one of those mega-busy work (as in day job) weeks where I will likely not get much writing in, but hopefully by the weekend I’ll have some time to work on my current WIP, a YA novel in a dark science fiction vein. I think I’m close to being 2/3 done with a very rough first draft.
Congrats on the awards! You definitely deserve them. I’m terrible about accepting and giving awards, so I know how you feel.
Hey Paul, congrats on all the awards!
I think you’ve made a marvelous splash into the blogging world ~ you’re awesome!
This week I”m working at putting down some serious wordage in my YA dystopian Children of the Gods and nailing down that elusive agent 🙂
Good luck to the both of us, eh?
Alissa good luck with that first draft. It’s always exciting working on a new book.
Thanks Vonna and Susan. The nicest thing about the awards was recognizing the people who gave them to me.
ali, I hope you find the right agent for you, good luck!!
Congrats on all your nifty awards! I’d say they’re well deserved!
As for my week, I’ll wrap up Revision #5 on Hatshepsut tomorrow. I’ve got some beta comments to attend to and another full revision before it’s querying time.
Man, every time I write that it scares me to death. Oh well. I’d better get used to it!
Stephanie, that sounds great!! Good luck with your revision and then the querying. A very exciting time for you!!
Paul,
Your pics are always so beautiful! This week I’m working on the climax of my novel. I’m almost over the hill and can see a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel:)
yay on the awards! I am so jealous that you can write a chapter a day! WHOO ! Way to go!!
Thanks, Veronica. Good luck with ending your novel! That’s exciting.
Thanks, Terry. Maybe my chapters are just shorter than yours:-)
I’m querying magazine editors and having no luck so far.
I passed the HONSET SCRAP AWARD along a couple of months ago.
Small world.
The teaching business is keeping my busy but I hope to revise a short story concerning the ghost of Duke Wayne this weekend…
I loved this post, Paul!! The pictures at the beginning are absolutely hilarious! And you’re doing a great job building your own web presence!
Kathy, good luck with the magazine pieces. I hope one comes thru for you.
WZ, yes, teaching is often all one can do. I used lots of short stories with my students, good luck with revising yours!
Thanks, Jody. I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. And, thanks for the vote of confidence:-)
congrads on agent and awards!
It is quite a journey, isn’t it? Loved that you shared the highlights with us and in such an entertaining format. Really glad you got the award.